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With palms together, Please allow me to thank each of you for siting with me and listening to my stumbling talk. While I wanted to address engaged practice, trauma just has a way of arising. And maybe that is its nature. Anyway, nine bows to you, Jundo, for inviting me to offer myself to your Sangha. And bows to each of those who attended and especially to those who engaged me at the end. I am sorry we could not hear the student from Mexico. Perhaps he could write his question and I will address him. My email address is: harveyhilbert@yahoo.com. Again, thank you. Daiho

With palms together, Please allow me to thank each of you for siting with me and listening to my stumbling talk. While I wanted to address engaged practice, trauma just has a way of arising. And maybe that is its nature. Anyway, nine bows to you, Jundo, for inviting me to offer myself to your Sangha. And bows to each of those who attended and especially to those who engaged me at the end. I am sorry we could not hear the student from Mexico. Perhaps he could write his question and I will address him. My email address is: harveyhilbert@yahoo.com. Again, thank you. Daiho

Thank you Daiho for your time and talk ... I very much enjoyed your reflection on engage practice. =) I have a family member who is faced with a substance abuse problem due to his life long battle with loneliness and sadness. Your perspective has been helpful and insightful. =)

Deep bows
Shingen

RINDO SHINGEN
倫道 真現

As a trainee priest, please take any commentary by me on matters of the Dharma with a pinch of salt.

Thank you, Daiho, for this talk, and to Jundo for facilitating. As I have been thinking about Daiho Roshi's talk, I have been wondering, for those of us who have been fortunate not to have experienced trauma, how do we live in a non-fearful way while knowing that trauma is a possibility?

Specifically, I have to admit that, having a young daughter, the gun violence here in the U.S. scares me. I am trying not to push away the fear that arises while at the same time not holding onto that fear.

I would be interested to hear how others respond to this sort of thing.

T I am trying not to push away the fear that arises while at the same time not holding onto that fear.

I feel that is a good way. Take it as it comes too, and ... while keeping one's eyes open, and looking both ways when crossing the street (no reason to take foolish chances) ... I also don't overexaggerate the realities. An airplane vanished in Malaysia, yet tens of thousands of planes land safely each day (I booked my ticket to America on a 777 that same day). Some dozen children were (so sadly) killed in school gun violence, yet millions of kids go to school each day without any incident. The news media these days spents countless hours on the former, never emphasize the latter (FLASH NEWS: NOTHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED TODAY!) This is a big thought for me, as I live 100 miles as the crow flies downwind from Fukushima. I looked at the realities of the situation ... the almost immeasurable increase in health risk ... and decided to keep living here with millions of other folks.

When a tiger comes, piss and shit your pants (apparently, a biological defense mechanism built into us ala Darwin) ... and RUN! When the tiger is gone, do you best to move past the tiger (as Daiho testifies, it is not so easy for many victims of trauma). Before the tiger comes, well, avoid walking around where the tigers hunt but, otherwise ... don't waste too much time thinking about imaginary tigers!

It is hard wired into our brains to sometimes be afraid. But, through Zen Practice, we can simultaneously manifest Buddha who is always always beyond fear. After all, when all is One ... what other is there to fear?

I am trying not to push away the fear that arises while at the same time not holding onto that fear.

I would be interested to hear how others respond to this sort of thing.

Gassho,
Matt J

Yeah, I like the way you say this. It gives me a good way to perceive that fear. I can't imagine any of the things Daiho went through (I mean, I can imagine them, but not accurately or in any real way) or others with similar experiences. But I've definitely felt what you describe: a fear that sometimes arises when my wife is late and her cell phone is dead. A fear that sometimes just springs up, that we will all die at some point, what if it's today in the car, etc. For me, I notice the strong attachment I have to some things (or people and animals), and while that can be a source of worry or fear, it's also a beautiful thing and I feel, in the moment, a little awed and grateful, and wouldn't want it any other way - I think those two things at once and seeing them clearly is a kind of non-attachment. Attached yet grateful for the attachment. I'm not explaining this well, but there it is.

Jundo: It is hard wired into our brains to sometimes be afraid. But, through Zen Practice, we can simultaneously manifest Buddha who is always always beyond fear. After all, when all is One ... what other is there to fear?

Alan: I think those two things at once and seeing them clearly is a kind of non-attachment.

A right to the point blog posting by our friend Daiho this morning. It is short, so I take the liberty of posting in full with a link ...

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The Zen of Nothing

There are a ton of books on Zen: Zen philosophy, Zen poetry, Zen art, Zen practice, Zen this, and Zen that. What I want to see is a Zen of Nothing. This would be the Zen of nothing important, a Zen without words, robes, bells, or whistles. A Zen without those in the know, those higher up, or those down below, those approved of and those not approved of: this would be a true Zen, a pure Zen, a Zen that cannot be taught or written about.

The Zen of Nothing is not even Zen. The Zen of Nothing is just the wind through the leaves, the sound of tap water in the sink or the feel of cool sheets on a summer’s eve.

What do we do to receive this Zen? Listen.

The Zen of Nothing is within you, around you, over you and under you. There is not a place or time where the Zen of Nothing does not exist. Stop thinking. Stop ruminating. Sit down. Be quiet. Rest easy in the world. The Zen of Nothing contains no evil, nor good, nor blessings, nor curses. It is not hot or cold, far or near.